System and method for using resources of a computer system in conjunction with a thin media client

ABSTRACT

A computer system including a processor and a memory for retrieving digital media content, storing the digital media content in the memory, and providing the digital media content to a thin media client is provided.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

The present application claims priority to and is a continuation of co-owned, co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/771,095 filed Jan. 26, 2001, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND

The disclosure herein relates generally to computer systems and more particularly to a system and method for using resources of a computer system in conjunction with a thin media client.

Media clients such as audio, video, and image devices are designed to perform a specialized function using digital media content downloaded from computer networks such as the Internet. To handle digital media content downloaded from the Internet or other local input devices such as a USB device or a CD-ROM, the media clients generally require significant amounts of memory, local storage, and processing power. For example, media clients that use realtime information such as streaming video or audio include enough memory to buffer realtime information to attempt to overcome streaming problems related to dropped packets and random transmission delays. The larger the buffer, the less likely that a user will experience delays when accessing the realtime information. Unfortunately, increasing the size of the buffer increases the cost and complexity of a media client. Similarly, increased storage or processing requirements needed for realtime information or other types of digital media content increase the cost and complexity of a media client.

It would be desirable to reduce the cost and complexity of media clients in a home network. Therefore, what is needed is a system and method for using resources of a computer system in conjunction with a thin media client.

SUMMARY

One embodiment, accordingly, provides a computer system including a processor and a memory for retrieving digital media content, storing the digital media content in the memory, and providing the digital media content to a thin media client.

A principal advantage of this embodiment is that it allows a thin media client to use the resources of a computer system in a home network. The cost and complexity of the thin media client is reduced by having the computer system perform many of the processing and storage functions of the media client. In addition, resources of the computer system not normally found in a media client may enhance the features of the media client.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an embodiment of a computer system configured to communicate with a plurality of thin media clients.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating an embodiment of a method for using resources of a computer system in conjunction with a thin media client.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an embodiment of a computer system 100 configured to communicate with a plurality of thin media clients 110, 120 and 130. As shown in an expanded view 100 a, computer system 100 includes a processor 102, a chipset 104, a plurality of devices 106 a, 106 b, and 106 c, a memory 108, and a network device 110. Audio client 110 includes a processor 112, a memory 114, a network device 116, and at least one device 118. Video client 120 includes a processor 122, a memory 124, a network device 126, and at least one device 128. Image client 130 includes a processor 132, a memory 134, a network device 136, and at least one device 138.

Computer system 100 is configured to communicate with other computing or storage devices using network device 110 and communications network 150. Network device 110 may be any suitable device such as a modem or NIC that allows computer system 100 to communicate using communications network 150. Communications network 150 may be any suitable wired or wireless network such as a global communications network, e.g. the Internet, or an intranet. Computer system 100 is also configured to communicate with thin media clients 110, 120, and 130 using network 140. Network 140 may be any suitable wired or wireless network. Network 140 may include Ethernet, home phone network alliance (HPNA), 802.11, or bluetooth components. In one embodiment, computer system 100 communicates with thin media clients 110, 120, and 130 over network 140 using the TCP/IP protocol. In other embodiments, computer system 100 communicates with the thin media clients 110, 120, and 130 using other protocols.

In FIG. 1, audio client 110, video client 120, and image client 130 are thin media clients. As used herein, the term thin media client refers to a device that is configured to perform one or more functions using digital media content and is configured to leverage the processing, storage, and buffering capabilities of a computer system. As used herein, the term digital media content refers to media information, such as any audio, video, still image or other graphical information or any combination of these media types, that is stored or transmitted in a digital format. Digital media content may be a discrete file that includes media information or may be a continuous stream, realtime or otherwise, of media information.

The components of audio client 110, video client 120, and image client 130, particularly processors 112, 122, and 132 and memories 114, 124, and 134, respectively, are designed to provide these thin media clients with a minimal level of processing, storage, and buffering capability. The bulk of the processing, storage, and buffering needs of audio client 110, video client 120, and image client 130 are provided by computer system 100 as will be described in more detail below.

Computer system 100 may be any type of wired or wireless computing device that is configured to provide services to thin media clients and communicate with other computer systems using communications network 150. For example, computer system 100 may be a personal computer, a server computer, or a laptop computer.

Computer system 100 is configured to perform processing, storage, and/or buffering functions for thin media clients 110, 120, and 130. Computer system 100 retrieves digital media content for thin media clients 110, 120, and 130 using communications network 150 or a local input device such as a USB device or CD-ROM. Computer system 100 may retrieve this content in response to a user input at a thin media client 110, 120, or 130 or at an input device of computer system 100. A thin media client 110, 120, or 130 and/or computer system 100 may be configured to provide the user with a user interface to allow the user to select digital media content to be downloaded. The user interface may be a standard Internet browser or other user interface that allows the user to select digital media content. Computer system 100 may also retrieve this content in response to a signal generated by software at either a thin media client 110, 120, or 130 or computer system 100. The signal may be generated according to criteria specified by a user such as to periodically download a digital media file.

Computer system 100 is configured to perform processing functions on digital media content. The particular processing functions performed may vary according to the type of digital media content. Examples of processing functions performed by computer system 100 include transcoding, digital rights management, decompression, and decryption of digital media content. These processing functions may be performed after the digital media content is downloaded or during the process of downloading the digital media content by computer system 100.

Transcoding refers to the process of converting digital media content from one form to another. This process may include converting digital media content from one predefined format to a second predefined format. The transcoding of digital media content allows computer system 100 to provide a thin media client 110, 120, or 130 with digital media content appropriate for the particular client. For example, digital media content may be downloaded in a format that is not supported by a particular client. In this case, computer system 100 transcodes the digital media content into a format that is supported by the particular client. As another example, certain digital media content may be downloaded in a high quality video or audio format. Here, computer system 100 may transcode the high quality video or audio digital media content into a lower quality video or audio format for use by a lower performance client. By transcoding digital media content, computer system 100 handles a processing task that may otherwise be handled by thin media client 110, 120, or 130.

Computer system 100 may be configured to perform digital rights management for proprietary digital media content. Certain digital media content may be available only to select users, i.e. authorized users, who have paid a use or subscription fee, e.g. pay per view or pay per listen, for the content. A digital rights system ensures that only authorized users are able to access proprietary digital media content. Computer system 100 performs processing tasks to implement a digital rights system. These tasks may vary between different digital rights systems. By performing these digital rights tasks, computer system 100 handles processing tasks that may otherwise be handled by thin media client 110, 120, or 130.

In addition, computer system 100 may be configured to decompress and decrypt digital media content. Certain digital media content may be downloaded in a compressed or encrypted form. Computer system 100 is configured to detect compressed and encrypted digital media content and decompress or decrypt the digital media content. By performing these decompression and decryption tasks, computer system 100 handles processing tasks that may otherwise be handled by thin media client 110, 120, or 130.

Computer system 100 may be configured to buffer digital media content. Computer system 100 is configured to temporarily store digital media content in memory 108 prior to providing the digital media content to thin media client 110, 120, or 130. In this way, large amounts of a digital media file or a continuous stream of digital media information are stored on computer system 100 and provided to thin media client 110, 120, or 130 as needed by performance demands or permitted by memory size constraints on the client. By buffering digital media content, the memory resources on thin media clients 110, 120, and 130 may be reduced.

Computer system 100 is further configured to store digital media content on a longer term basis in memory 108. For example, digital media files such as audio files for use with audio client 110 may be downloaded and stored on computer system 100. As a result, these files may be accessed from computer system 100 repeatedly by audio client 110. By storing digital media content on computer system 100, the memory resources on thin media clients 110, 120, and 130 may be reduced.

Computer system 100 is configured to provide user interfaces associated with thin media clients 110, 120, and 130 to a user. The user interfaces may provide the user with the ability to operate one or more features of the clients or may provide enhanced features associated with the clients. For example, a user interface may allow a user to set preferences associated with a client, create playlists of stored digital media content, manage a favorites list of digital media content, manage the amount of digital media content stored on computer system 100, select digital media content to be retrieved, or otherwise organize digital media content. By providing user interfaces associated with thin media clients 110, 120, and 130, computer system 100 may enhance or complement the features of the clients in addition to possibly reducing the amount resources of the clients.

The above uses of computer system 100 provide examples of how the resources of computer system 100 may be used by thin media clients 110, 120, and 130 to allow the clients to avoid including redundant resources. Other examples where thin media clients 110, 120, and 130 leverage other resources of computer system 100 are possible and contemplated. The functions and operations of three example thin media clients, audio client 110, video client 120, and image client 130, will now be discussed. It is understood, however, that other types of thin media clients that perform other media functions may be configured to use the resources of computer system 100.

Audio client 110 is configured to play audio from digital media content. Processor 112, memory 114, and network device 116 provide audio client 110 with the ability to operate and communicate with computer system 100 to retrieve digital audio content. In audio client 110, device 118 may be any audio device such as speakers or headphones capable of producing audio and may be located externally or separate from audio client 110. Audio client 110 may be configured to play digital audio files or realtime digital audio information. The files or information may be buffered or stored by computer system 100 and may be of any format such as MP3, Windows Media Audio (WMA), Real Networks G2 or Direct Show compliant formats. Computer system 100 may be configured to transcode the audio files or information before providing the files or information to audio client 110. Computer system 100 may be configured to decompress or decrypt audio files or information prior to providing the files or information audio client 110. For Direct Show files in particular, computer system 100 may invoke codecs supported by the Direct Show architecture to perform tasks on the audio files or information prior to providing the files or information to audio client 110. Computer system 100 may also strip away decryption associated with a digital rights management system or perform other digital rights management tasks on the audio files or information prior to providing the files or information to audio client 110. A user interface provided by computer system 100 may allow a user to create playlists or songlists for use by audio client 110.

Video client 120 is configured to play video from digital media content. Processor 122, memory 124, and network device 126 provide video client 120 with the ability to operate and communicate with computer system 100 to retrieve digital video content. In video client 120, device 128 may be any video device such as a display screen capable of displaying video and may be located externally or separate from video client 120. Video client 120 may be configured to play digital video files or realtime digital video information. The files or information may be buffered or stored by computer system 100 and may be of any format such as MPEG1, MPEG2, MPEG4, AVI, Quicktime, Real Video, and Windows Media Video (WMV). Computer system 100 may be configured to transcode the video files or information before providing the files or information to video client 120. Computer system 100 may be configured to decompress or decrypt video files or information prior to providing the files or information to video client 120. Computer system 100 may invoke codecs supported by a particular architecture to perform tasks on the video files or information prior to providing the files or information to video client 120. Computer system 100 may also strip away decryption associated with a digital rights management system or perform other digital rights management tasks on the video files or information prior to providing the files or information to video client 120. A user interface provided by computer system 100 may allow a user to create video playlists for use by video client 120.

Image client 130 is configured to display images or graphics from digital media content. Processor 132, memory 134, and network device 136 provide image client 130 with the ability to operate and communicate with computer system 100 to retrieve digital image content. In image client 130, device 138 may be any image or graphics device such as a display screen capable of displaying images or graphics and may be located externally or separate from image client 130. Image client 130 may be configured to play digital video files or digital video information. The files or information may be buffered or stored by computer system 100 and may be of any format such as JPEG, GIF, TIFF, and BMP. Computer system 100 may be configured to transcode the image files or information before providing the files or information to image client 130. Computer system 100 may be configured to decompress or decrypt image files or information prior to providing the files or information image client 130. Computer system 100 may invoke codecs supported by a particular image architecture to perform tasks on the image files or information prior to providing the files or information to image client 130. Computer system 100 may also strip away decryption associated with a digital rights management system or perform other digital rights management tasks on the image files or information prior to providing the files or information to image client 130. A user interface provided by computer system 100 may allow a user to manage images for use by image client 130.

In other embodiments, multiple thin media clients that perform similar or identical functions may be added to the system shown in FIG. 1. These thin media clients may be located in different rooms in a home network, for example, and may further leverage the resources of computer system 100 by allowing digital media content handled by computer system 100 to be used with multiple thin clients.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating an embodiment of a method for using resources of a computer system in conjunction with a thin media client. In the embodiment of FIG. 2, digital media content is retrieved by a computer system for use with a thin media client using a communications network or local input/output (I/O) device such as a USB device or CD-ROM as indicated in step 202. The digital media content is stored on the computer system as indicated in step 204. The digital media content may be stored permanently or temporarily on the computer system as determined by characteristics of the thin media client and/or a user selection. A processing function is performed on the digital media content as indicated in step 206. The processing function may include decompressing the digital media content, decrypting the digital media content, performing a rights management function associated with the digital media content, transcoding the digital media content, or any other processing operation associated with the digital media content. In certain cases, step 206 may be omitted where no additional processing of the digital media content is needed. The digital media content is provided to the thin media client as indicated in step 208.

As can be seen, the principal advantages of these embodiments are that they allow a thin media client to use the resources of a computer system in a home network. The cost and complexity of the thin media client is reduced by having the computer system perform many of the processing and storage functions of the media client. In addition, resources of the computer system not normally found in a media client may enhance the features of the media client.

Although illustrative embodiments have been shown and described, a wide range of modification, change and substitution is contemplated in the foregoing disclosure and in some instances, some features of the embodiments may be employed without a corresponding use of other features. Accordingly, it is appropriate that the appended claims be construed broadly and in a manner consistent with the scope of the embodiments disclosed herein. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A digital rights management (DRM) system, comprising: a processing system that is configured to be coupled to a global communications network and coupled to a thin audio client through a home network, wherein the processing system is further configured to: receive digital audio content over the global communications network; perform a DRM function that is associated with an authorized user on the digital audio content to provide authorized digital audio content; store the authorized digital audio content in a storage device; and provide the authorized digital audio content to the thin audio client over the home network to allow the thin audio client to receive the authorized digital audio content as an input and output the authorized digital audio content without performing a DRM function.
 2. The system of claim 1, wherein the thin audio client is coupled to an audio device that is configured to receive the authorized digital audio content output from the thin audio client and use the authorized digital audio content to produce audio.
 3. The system of claim 2, wherein the audio device includes at least one speaker.
 4. The system of claim 1, wherein the digital audio content is received from a server coupled to the global communications network.
 5. A digital rights management (DRM) method, comprising: receiving digital audio content over the global communications network; performing a DRM function that is associated with an authorized user on the digital audio content to provide authorized digital audio content; storing the authorized digital audio content in a storage device; and providing the authorized digital audio content to a thin audio client over the home network to allow the thin audio client to receive the authorized digital audio content as an input and output the authorized digital audio content without performing a DRM function.
 6. A digital rights management (DRM) system, comprising: a processing system that is configured to be coupled to a global communications network and coupled to a thin video client through a home network, wherein the processing system is further configured to: receive digital video content over the global communications network; perform a DRM function that is associated with an authorized user on the digital video content to provide authorized digital video content; store the authorized digital video content in a storage device; and provide the authorized digital video content to the thin video client over the home network to allow the thin video client to receive the authorized digital video content as an input and output the authorized digital video content without performing a DRM function.
 7. The system of claim 6, wherein the thin video client is coupled to an video device that is configured to receive the authorized digital video content output from the thin video client and use the authorized digital video content to display video.
 8. The system of claim 7, wherein the video device includes at least one display screen.
 9. The system of claim 6, wherein the digital video content is received from a server coupled to the global communications network.
 10. A digital rights management (DRM) method, comprising: receiving digital video content over the global communications network; performing a DRM function that is associated with an authorized user on the digital video content to provide authorized digital video content; storing the authorized digital video content in a storage device; and providing the authorized digital video content to a thin video client over the home network to allow the thin video client to receive the authorized digital video content as an input and output the authorized digital video content without performing a DRM function.
 11. A digital media organization system, comprising: a processing system that is configured to be coupled to a global communications network and coupled to a thin media client through a home network, wherein the processing system is further configured to: receive digital media content over the global communications network; provide a user interface for operating a feature for the thin media client; receive an organization instruction through the user interface that is directed to organizing the digital media content for output on the thin media client to provide organized digital media content; store the organized digital media content in a storage device; and provide the organized digital media content to the thin media client over the home network to allow the thin media client to receive the organized digital media content as an input and output the organized digital media content according to the organization instruction.
 12. The system of claim 11, wherein the processing system is further configured to: receive a preference instruction through the user interface that is directed to a preference setting for the thin media client.
 13. The system of claim 11, wherein the organization instruction that is directed to organizing the digital media content for output on the thin media client includes playlist information that provides the organized digital media content in a playlist for output on the thin media client.
 14. The system of claim 11, wherein the organization instruction that is directed to organizing the digital media content for output on the thin media client includes favorite list information that provides the organized digital media content in a favorites list for output on the thin media client.
 15. The system of claim 11, wherein the processing system is further configured to: receive a storage management instruction through the user interface that is directed to managing the amount of digital media content stored as organized digital media content in the storage device.
 16. The system of claim 11, wherein the organization instruction that is directed to organizing the digital media content for output on the thin media client includes selection information that selects the organized digital media content to be retrieved from the storage device and provided to the thin media client for output.
 17. The system of claim 11, wherein the digital media content is digital audio content.
 18. The system of claim 11, wherein the digital media content is digital video content.
 19. The system of claim 11, wherein the digital media content is digital image content.
 20. A digital media organization method, comprising: receiving digital media content over a global communications network; providing a user interface for operating a feature for a thin media client; receiving an instruction through the user interface that is directed to organizing the digital media content for output on the thin media client to provide organized digital media content; storing the organized digital media content in a storage device; and providing the organized digital media content to the thin media client over the home network to allow the thin media client to receive the organized digital media content as an input and output the organized digital media content.
 21. A digital media organization system, comprising: a processing system including a local input device and coupled to a thin media client through a home network, wherein the processing system is configured to: receive digital media content from the local input device; provide a user interface for operating a feature the thin media client; receive an organization instruction through the user interface that is directed to organizing the digital media content for output on the thin media client provide organized digital media content; store the organized digital media content in a storage device; and provide the organized digital media content to the thin media client over the home network to allow thin media client to receive the organized digital media content as an input and output the organized digital media content according to the organization instruction.
 22. The system of claim 21, wherein the processing system is further configured to: receive a preference instruction through the user interface that is directed to a preference setting for the thin media client.
 23. The system of claim 21, wherein the organization instruction that is directed to organizing the digital media content for output on the thin media client includes playlist information that provides the organized digital media content in a playlist for output on the thin media client.
 24. The system of claim 21, wherein the organization instruction that is directed to organizing the digital media content for output on the thin media client includes favorite list information that provides the organized digital media content in a favorites list for output on the thin media client.
 25. The system of claim 21, wherein the processing system is further configured to: receive a storage management instruction through the user interface that is directed to managing the amount of digital media content stored as organized digital media content in the storage device.
 26. The system of claim 21, wherein the organization instruction that is directed to organizing the digital media content for output on the thin media client includes selection information that selects the organized digital media content to be retrieved from the storage device and provided to the thin media client for output.
 27. The system of claim 21, wherein the digital media content is digital audio content.
 28. The system of claim 21, wherein the digital media content is digital video content.
 29. The system of claim 21, wherein the digital media content is digital image content.
 30. A digital media organization method, comprising: receiving digital media content from a local input device; providing a user interface for operating a feature for a thin media client; receiving an instruction through the user interface that is directed to organized the digital media content for output on the thin media client to provide organized digital media content; storing the organized digital media content in a storage device; and providing the organized digital media content to the thin media client over the home network to allow the thin media client to receive the organized digital media content as an input and output the organized digital media content. 